Closure mechanism for louver windows

ABSTRACT

A closure mechanism for louver windows utilizing a reciprocating closure actuation bar and a plurality of elongated springs interconnecting it with the several individually pivoted sections of the window, the springs contributing elastic yieldability between the bar and the window sections by lateral bending, such that the springs for the section or sections which reach closed position first, thereafter undergo lateral bending as subsequent window sections complete their closure movements, and thus do not hang up the actuating mechanism and prevent it from closing the remainder of the sections. The springs are in the nature of elongated resilient elements, such as a wire, capable of yielding readily by lateral bending. In preferred forms of the invention, the resilient element is formed with an initial bend, or angle, to reduce its stiffness and thus improve its proneness to undergo the desired lateral bending action.

United States Patent [1 1 Dulebohn et al.

' [451 Aug. 7, 1973 CLOSURE MECHANISM FOR LOUVER WINDOWS [75] Inventors: Richard E. Dulebohn, Boise, Idaho;

Leonard W. Gordon, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif.

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 8/1967 Great Britain 49/82 I Primary Examiner-Mervin Stein Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-Forrest J. Lilly [57] ABSTRACT A closure mechanism for louver windows utilizing a reciprocating closure actuation bar and a plurality of elongated springs interconnecting it with the several individually pivoted sections of the window, the springs contributing elastic yieldability between the bar and the window sections by lateral bending, such that the springs for the section or sections which reach closed position first, thereafter undergo lateral bending as subsequent window sections complete their closure movements, and thus do not hang up the actuating mechanism and prevent it from closing the remainder of the sections. The springs are in the nature of elongated resilient elements, such as a wire, capable of yielding readily by lateral bending. In preferred forms of the invention, the resilient element is formed with an initial bend, or angle, to reduce its stifi'ness and thus improve its proneness to undergo the desired lateral bending action.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUB M973 uvvawo CLOSURE MECHANISM FOR LOUVER WINDOWS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to louver windows, and to closure devices by which the several individually pivoted glass windows or window sections of such windows are opened and closed.

Windows of this type are commonly installed in homes, and increasingly in mobile homes and house trailers. There is usually provided, at each vertical edge of the window, a vertically reciprocal actuating bar, and these two bars may be moved simultaneously by, typically, a crank-operated mechanism commonly located at the bottom of the window. Brackets projecting from the window sections, from points spaced somewhat from the pivot axes thereof, are pivotally connected to the actuating bars; and the window sections are swung in unison between open and closed positions by vertical reciprocation of these bars. However, undue, expensively provided precision is required in the manufacture of the several windows and the actuating devices if all are to close and seal in a satisfactory manner. The problem is simply that without closely held tolerances, the first window section of the group to close acts on and through the closing linkage to hang up remaining sections. Remedies have been proposed,

I but no exceptionally simple and inexpensive way has SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention utilizes a closure device having, between the reciprocating actuating bars and each pivoted window section, an elongated, resiliently laterally bendable spring element, inclusive of a section initially shaped or bent so that when stretched longitudinally it will resiliently bend laterally and thus elongate. This occurs in the order of final closure of the respective window sections. Portions of these spring elements serve as the hinge pins by which the window sections are pivoted. The closure linkage can thus continue to move in the closing direction until all window sections have been fully closed, each section coming finally to a stop, and its spring closure element then bending laterally, as required, until all window sections are tightly closed. A preferred form of the invention utilizes a preformed bend in the spring element to increase yieldability. A further feature of the invention in its present preferred form has an action by which not only the swinging" edge of the window section is drawn to a tight closure, but the hinged edge as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two-panel louver window in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the window, taken in accordance with the line 2--2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a view, in elevation, looking at the'window from the rear or inside, in accordance with the arrow 3 in FIG. 2, and with a medial portion of the window broken away;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the spring-and-hinge element of the invention, as utilized in the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a modification;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the same modification; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the spring-and-hinge element of the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 2-5. FIG. l is a perspective view of a two-section louver window 10 of the type in which the present invention is incorporated, comprised of two window sections 11, each having a pane of glass 3, or other transparent material, provided around its margin with frame means 12. The window sections are pivotally mounted near their upper edges, on horizontal axes h (FIGS. 2 and 3) within window openings 13 in an outer frame 14. This frame 14 is fashioned in any conventional fashion to be fitted into the opening W in the wall in which the louver window is to be installed. When these piv oted window sections are closed, by swinging inwardly on the axes h, the lower edge portion of the upper window section, or frame means therealong, vertically overlaps and closes over the upper edge portion of the window section immediately below or, in the case of the lowermost window section, over a flange portion 15 of the outer frame 14 (FIG. 2). The vertical edge portions of the window sections or frame means therealong close against the corresponding vertical members of the frame I4.

In accordance with well-known practice, the frame means 12a along the side edges of the window sections have flange portions which are designed to engage rubber seals 16 on the vertical frame members 17 of the frame 14 (FIG. 4) when the window sections close.

The vertical frame members 17 have the sealretaining bars 18, a web 19 at right angles to the plane of the window, and flanges 20 and 21 for mounting to the wall structure into which the window is to be installed. These parts form no part of the present invention, and hence will not be described in detail.

The frame means for the two (or more) window sections are identical excepting for tthe horizontally extending top members, which are designated by the numerals 26 and 26a, respectively. The horizontal lower frame members of the window sections are indicated at 27, the vertical edge members being indicated at 12a, as already mentioned.

The top and bottom horizontal members of the outer frame 14 are indicated at 31 and 32, respectively. The latter has the aforementioned flange 15 against which the lower edge portion 27 of the lowermost window section abuts when the window closes. Seal elements 33 in the horizontal lower window frame members 27 seal for the lower window section, to the flange IS, and for the upper window section, to the upper horizontal window frame member 26a.

The top outer frame member 31 has an outwardly angled channeled flange 40 accommodating a seal 41, including preferably a short seal curtain 42. The upper window section frame member 26 has an upstanding flange which, when the window section is moved to closed position on the swing axis'h, moves toward contact with the seal 41.

The window sections are opened and closed by two vertical, vertically movable bars 50, one positioned just inside the outer frame flange 20 on each side (FIGS. 3 and 4). To the lower ends of these bars are pivotally connected links 52 which are in turn pivotally connected to cranks 54 on a shaft 55. This shaft is rotated through suitable gears, not shown, from a hand crank 60, in order to raise or lower the bars 50.

The structure so far described is conventional, and therefore not illustrated nor described in complete detail. The operative connecting means 62 between the bars 50 and the windows, and the trunnions for the windows, comprising the present invention, will next be described. This operative connecting means 62 comprises, in its present preferred form, a spring wire, fairly stiff against lateral bending, but nevertheless capable of a degree of elastic lateral bending without undue effort. The spring wire may be composed of galvanized iron, for example, or other materials suitable to the purpose, and can even be composed of a suitably shaped member of plastic, for example Nylon. In the preferred form, the member 62, composed of laterally bendable or resiient spring wire, has a pivot or trunnion end portion 63, which extends through and is rotatable in the outer frame web 19 (see FIG. 4) at a level close to, and preferably just below, the upper edge of the window section to be mounted. lnwardly of said web 19, and adjacent the web of the frame 12a of the window section to be mounted, the wire is bent vertically downward for a distance to form a vertical segment 62a, as shown, and then formed with a loop or eye 64. A screw 65 passes through this eye and is screwed into the web of the vertical window frame member 12a, the head of the screw clamping the eye 64 to the window. Beyond this eye 64, the wire is bent at an upward angle to form an angular segment or upper drag link 66, and is also bent somewhat laterally so as to lie adjacent the bar 50. At this point the wire is formed with another eye 67, and is pivotally connected to the bar with a screw 67a which does not rigidly clamp the eye 67. Preferably, with the window closed, this eye and screw are substantially at the level of the pivot 63. Beyond the eye 67, a laterally bent segment or link 68 of wire reaches downward and laterally so as to again reach the plane of the web of frame member 12a, where it is fonned into an eye 69, and a stub end 70 lying adjacent said web. The wire segment 68, which functions as a drag link, is preferably formed in two parts 68a and 68b, with an intervening angle bend 68c, so as to form a dogleg; or it may have any lateral bend or deflection, i.e. any nonrectilinear form, so that it is capable of lateral bending so as to straighten under tension and so permit increase in the distance from eye 67 to eye 69. The parallelogram form shown is preferred. A screw 71 secures the eye 69 tightly to the web of window frame member 120.

The wire element 62 is thus trunnioned on the outer frame at 63, tightly fastened to window frame member 12a at 65 and 69, and pivotally connected to the actuating bar at 67. It will be clear that when the bars 50 are lowered from the positions shown, the wire brackets formed by the bent wire elements 62 will swing the windows out and up on the pivot axis h. The bars 50 move primarily longitudinally, but move a little laterally as the window sections are swung out, owing to the connecting elements 62. When the bars 50 are then raised, the wire segments 66 and 68 swing the window sections inward. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper window section has been swung fully closed by an upward movement of the bars 50, but owing to imperfectly held tolerances, the lower window section has not fully closed. However, by forcing the bars 50 slightly further upward, requiring only small added force, the wire segment of the wire element 62 for the upper window can bend laterally, particularly at its elbow 68c, and so lengthen to permit a necessary additional increment of upward travel of the actuating bar to accomplish closure of the lower window. This dogleg link formation, which incidentally can be given a reverse bend, thus will permit any number of windows to close, since when its corresponding window closes it is capable, by resilient straightening, of whatever extension is necessary to accommodate a requisite further elevation of the actuating bar.

The action of the upper links 66 during the closing action should also be understood. As the actuating bars elevate through their last increments of closing movement, the links 66 go into tension, and pull inwardly, through the window fastening screws 65, on the upper portion of the window. The upper portion of the window is thus moved slightly or more tightly inwardly against its rubber seals 16, which may yield slightly to accommodate the inward movement so'provided. A better seal against the weather is thus secured.

An alternative is to avoid tightening of the upper screws 65 against the eyes 64, and to provide a slight clearance for the eyes 64 around the screws 64. The upper links 66 can thus resiliently straighten slightly between the points where they bind in back of the eyes 64, or the eyes 64 can contact or otherwise resiliently deform to increase the length of the links 66 in order to accommodate the little extra upward movement of the bar 50. A similar arrangement can be afforded at the upper end of link 66, permitting a slight elongation of the link 66, by taking up of a slight clearance between eye 67 and screw 67a, or by a slight deformation in eye 67 owing to tension in the link 66.

The over-all performance is that the window sections are simultaneously moved through closing action by vertical actuation of the bars 50, and accompanying pivotal action of the spring connectors 62 on their trunnions 63. In practice, one or more of the window sections will generally close first, leaving one or more window sections gapping slightly open.

In accordance with the invention, the actuating bars 50 can then be elevated slightly further, causing the links 68a, 68b of the spring closure devices 62 of the window already closed to straighten and thus lengthen, by bending principally at the elbow 68c, until all of the window sections have been moved fully closed. Attention is called to the fact that when the bars 50 are thus elevated somewhat additionally after the windows have already closed at the bottom, they are pulled somewhat inwardly near the top, i.e. shortly below their trunnion mountings, by tension exerted in the links 66. The upper portions of the window sections are thus pulled inwardly slightly so as to improve sealing engagement with the seal strips 16, which slightly flatten or deform to accommodate this last action. In other cases, in the modified forms of the invention referred to hereinabove, the eyes at the two ends of the links 66 can move slightly, through resilient deformation of the eyes, to permit the last increment of upward travel of the bars 50. Adjustment of the wire links 66 and 68 can be easily made by bending them slightly through use of a pair of pliers.

The device of the invention thus assures closure of all window sections against the weather, from a single actuating bar at each edge of the window, notwithstanding only roughly held tolerances, and a very inexpensive construction. Not only are the window sections pulled in tightly and closely at the bottom, but they are drawn inwardly in their upper portions to make good sealing contact with the sea] strips 16, as already ex plained.

A modification of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6,

7 and 8, where FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing substantially the same window frame and window sections, but with a modified spring closure element using, however, the same principles, basically, as described in connection with the earlier and presently preferred embodiment of the invention. FIG. '7 is similar to a portion of FIG. 3, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the modified spring closure element.

It will not be necessary to describe additionally the window frame or window parts, and so far as is necessary, these are designated by reference numerals the same as those applied in FIGS. 1-5 because of their complete identity.

The spring closure element in this case is designated generally by reference numeral 82. It has an upper vertical segment 82a, turned at right angles at the top to form a horizontal trunnion 83. At the bottom of segment 82a, the wire element is bent or offset horizontally, as at 84, to go around window screw 65, by which it is fastened near to its trunnion tightly against the window section frame member 12a. The spring member is then bent vertically downward to form a relatively long vertical leg 85, which is formed at the bottom with an eye or hairpin turn 86, the latter going around a screw 71 which is fastened to the frame member 12a. In the embodiment here being described, the wire element then rises vertically, and then angularly rearwardly and upwardly, to form a dogleg link 90, comprised of a lower section 91, and an upper section 92, joined by an elbow 93. The upper end of the link segment 92 is formed with an eye 95 which goes around a screw 67a, which pivotally connects it to the actuating bar 50. Having made approximately three-quarters of a turn about the screw 67a, the wire element then forms a link 96, which at its far end is formed with an eye 97 that preferably somewhat loosely encircles the trunnion 83. The trunnion 83 is of course mounted in the stationary frame member 14 in a manner which may be identical with that illustrated in FIG. 4.

It will be seen that the embodiment of FIGS. performs basically as that first described. The spring link 82 corresponding to the window section or sections first to close thus permit slight elevation of the actuating bar 50 by elongation of the link 90 through bending at the elbow 93. The added increment of elevation of to the fact that the pull of the link 96 is right at the hinge axis of the window. Accordingly, the eye 97 is made somewhat larger than in the earlier embodiment,

or with larger clearance relative to the trunnion, and this clearance affords the necessary freedom for the requisite movement of link 96 as the actuating bar 50 undergoes its additional increment of closing travel.

The embodiments of the invention now described and which are illustrated in the drawings are representative of a large numer of variational forms which may be easily devised by those skilled in the art when the principles of the invention have been understood through reference to the present specification. Accordingly, it is contemplated that such modifications are within the scope of the broader of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

l. A louver window construction comprising:

an exterior supporting frame and a plurality of elongated window sections pivotally mounted therein on spaced, parallel pivot axes which extend longitudinally of the elongated sections and which are near corresponding upper longitudinal edges of the sections, said window sections being pivotally movable between upper, outwardly swung, open positions, and lowered positions closed against said supporting frame in an arrangement with the swinging lower edge of one window section stopped in closed position by said supporting frame, and the swinging lower edge of another window section overlapping and stopped in closed position by the first mentioned window section;

a reciprocable actuating bar located inside said exterior supporting frame and inwardly of said window sections, said bar extending transversely of the parallel pivot axes of said sections in a plane at right angles to said axes and passing near the end edges of the window sections;

a longitudinally stiff but laterally resiliently bendable wire for each of said window sections, each having a loop formed therein;

a fastening element securing said loop to an edge of the corresponding window section at a point near the pivot axis of the section;

a segment of said wire extending from said loop to said pivot axis;

a trunnion element turned from said segment along said axis and pivotally mounted in said exterior frame;

a segment of said wire extending from said loop to a loop formed therein adjacent said actuating bar, said last mentioned loop being located generally opposite said pivot axis when the window section is in closed position;

means pivotally connecting said last mentioned loop to said bar;

another segment of said wire having a lateral bend therein, so as to be capable of longitudinal extension under tension, said last named segment extending from said last mentioned loop to a point along the edge of said window section more remotely spaced from said pivot axis than said first mentioned loop and fastening element; and

means securing said last mentioned segment to the edge of said window frame at said point.

2. A louver window construction comprising:

an exterior supporting frame and a plurality of elongated window sections pivotally mounted therein on spaced, parallel pivot axes which extend longitudinally of the elongated sections and which are near corresponding upper longitudinal edges of the sections, said window sections being pivotally movable between upper, outwardly swung, open positions, and lowered positions closed against said supporting frame in an arrangement with the swinging lower edge of one window section stopped in closed position by said supporting frame, and the swinging lower edge of another window section overlapping and stopped in closed position by the first mentioned window section;

a reciprocable actuating bar located inside said exterior supporting frame and inwardly of said window sections, said bar extending transversely of the parallel pivot axes of said sections in a plane at right angles to said axes and passing near the end edges of the window sections;

a longitudinally stiff but laterally resiliently bendable wire for each of said window sections; and

a trunnion element on an end of each of said wires extending along said axis and pivotally mounted in said exterior frame;

each of said wires having a segment extending along an edge of the window frame and secured thereto, terminating in a U-bend followed by a laterally bent drag link segment pivotally connected to the actuating bar.

3. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said last mentioned segment of said wire is in the form of a dogleg, with a portion beginning at said pivotal connection and extending substantially parallel to the bar, and a portion at an obtuse angle to the first mentioned portion, and reaching to the means securing the last mentioned segment to the edge of the window section.

4. The subject matter of claim 2, wherein the pivotal connection of the laterally bent drag link segment to the actuating bar is approximately opposite said trunnion, and wherein said drag link segment is followed, beyond said pivotal connection, by a link whose extremity reaches to said trunnion and is looped thereabout. 

1. A louver window construction comprising: an exterior supporting frame and a plurality of elongated window sections pivotally mounted therein on spaced, parallel pivot axes which extend longitudinally of the elongated sections and which are near corresponding upper longitudinal edges of the sections, said window sections being pivotally movable between upper, outwardly swung, open positions, and lowered positions closed against said supporting frame in an arrangement with the swinging lower edge of one window section stopped in closed position by said supporting frame, and the swinging lower edge of anotHer window section overlapping and stopped in closed position by the first mentioned window section; a reciprocable actuating bar located inside said exterior supporting frame and inwardly of said window sections, said bar extending transversely of the parallel pivot axes of said sections in a plane at right angles to said axes and passing near the end edges of the window sections; a longitudinally stiff but laterally resiliently bendable wire for each of said window sections, each having a loop formed therein; a fastening element securing said loop to an edge of the corresponding window section at a point near the pivot axis of the section; a segment of said wire extending from said loop to said pivot axis; a trunnion element turned from said segment along said axis and pivotally mounted in said exterior frame; a segment of said wire extending from said loop to a loop formed therein adjacent said actuating bar, said last mentioned loop being located generally opposite said pivot axis when the window section is in closed position; means pivotally connecting said last mentioned loop to said bar; another segment of said wire having a lateral bend therein, so as to be capable of longitudinal extension under tension, said last named segment extending from said last mentioned loop to a point along the edge of said window section more remotely spaced from said pivot axis than said first mentioned loop and fastening element; and means securing said last mentioned segment to the edge of said window frame at said point.
 2. A louver window construction comprising: an exterior supporting frame and a plurality of elongated window sections pivotally mounted therein on spaced, parallel pivot axes which extend longitudinally of the elongated sections and which are near corresponding upper longitudinal edges of the sections, said window sections being pivotally movable between upper, outwardly swung, open positions, and lowered positions closed against said supporting frame in an arrangement with the swinging lower edge of one window section stopped in closed position by said supporting frame, and the swinging lower edge of another window section overlapping and stopped in closed position by the first mentioned window section; a reciprocable actuating bar located inside said exterior supporting frame and inwardly of said window sections, said bar extending transversely of the parallel pivot axes of said sections in a plane at right angles to said axes and passing near the end edges of the window sections; a longitudinally stiff but laterally resiliently bendable wire for each of said window sections; and a trunnion element on an end of each of said wires extending along said axis and pivotally mounted in said exterior frame; each of said wires having a segment extending along an edge of the window frame and secured thereto, terminating in a U-bend followed by a laterally bent drag link segment pivotally connected to the actuating bar.
 3. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said last mentioned segment of said wire is in the form of a dogleg, with a portion beginning at said pivotal connection and extending substantially parallel to the bar, and a portion at an obtuse angle to the first mentioned portion, and reaching to the means securing the last mentioned segment to the edge of the window section.
 4. The subject matter of claim 2, wherein the pivotal connection of the laterally bent drag link segment to the actuating bar is approximately opposite said trunnion, and wherein said drag link segment is followed, beyond said pivotal connection, by a link whose extremity reaches to said trunnion and is looped thereabout. 